Teen burglars trigger SWAT scene

Teen burglars trigger SWAT sceneEAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY- A Friday morning burglary led to a SWAT scene and then a multi-agency manhunt that landed two teens in jail and may be linked to the burglaries of numerous other homes in that area.

Jorge Diego Diaz, 18, of 16261 Highline Blvd. in unincorporated Conroe, is charged with burglary of a habitation. As of Saturday morning, Diaz is in the Montgomery County Jail.
A 16-year-old Hispanic male, whose identity is protected because of his juvenile status, was arrested on the same charge and placed in the Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center.

Lt. Darrel Conn, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Dist. 3, said around 8:45 a.m. deputies responded to a burglary call at a residence in the 13600 block of Wigginsville Rd, which is in the Wigginsville community near Grangerland.

Diaz was immediately found and arrested, but the second teen fled from the rear of the home with a shotgun and disappeared into the woods, Conn said.

A large perimeter was established in the area by MCSO District 1 and District 3 patrol officers, and members of the Pct. 4 and Pct. 2 Constable’s Offices. MCSO SWAT, detectives and a Montgomery Police Department K-9 tracking unit also provided assistance.

The dog tracked the suspect in a southwest path, about two miles into the woods before losing the scent.

Eventually, the officers changed their tactic, with marked vehicles leaving the area and only a few well-placed units remaining. The strategy paid off about 45 minutes later when an area resident saw the teen emerge from the woods near the intersection of Johnson Mallard Rd. and Lovelady Rd., where he allegedly stole a bicycle and tried to flee. At that point, he was no longer armed.

It was about 1:15 p.m. when Sgt. Scott Altamus and Deputy Jack Armstrong arrested him without incident.

Conn said the juvenile left a trail of stolen property as he fled, with the object of the burglary appearing to be weapons, which has been the case recently in several other area burglaries. That connection is under investigation, he said.